Coffee making device



June 1941- G. w. WATSON 2,245,238 COFFEE MAKING DEVICE Filed May 1, 19:59

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Patented June 10, 1941 COFFEE MAKING DEVICE Glenn W. Watson, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 1, 1939, Serial No. 271,075

2 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel apparatus for and a methodof making coffee. The method is essentially an electrical one whereby cold water is heated electrically within the apparatus and partially converted into steam.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method whereby the ground coffee is subject to the action of steam as well as to hot water. Further, the steam generated within the apparatus plays on the ground coffee, the surface of the coffee solution, and the inner walls of the part of the apparatus containing the solution. This partof the apparatus, therefore, requires no separate heating means to keep the solution hot.

By-- comparative tests with the conventional methods, using equal amounts of the same kind of coffee and equal quantities of water throughout, it has been shown that coffee prepared according to the method herein described is stronger and richer, has a unique reddish amber color, and about half the acidity, which is the cause of bitterness in coffee.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical apparatus requiring no manual switch. The closing of the circuit depends on the wetting of the electric element within the apparatus. When water is allowed to drip on this element, the circuit is closed through the water, and the latter is heated and partially converted into steam by the'fiow of current therethrough. When the water ceases to flow, the circuit is broken as soon as the electrical element becomes dry. Thus, there can be no overheating, overboiling or any other damage due to failure to open a switch or pull out the plug at the proper time.

The invention'is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device;

Figure 2 is a section'on the line 22 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Flgure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of oneof the electrical elements, without the ceramic body and showing the wiring in diagram;

Figure 6 is a detail plan view of the valve In Figure 1 the device i'sshown as including a bowl I of hardened plastic or other suitable material and formed at its top with a neck 2. The bowl is preferably fitted with an inner wall 2 spaced from'the outer wall, and the space I being evacuated for heat insulation. Near the bottom,

both walls are formed with a walled passage 5 communicating with a suitable pouring spout 6 attached to the outer surface of the bowl I. The u per open end of the inner receptacle 3 is preferably attached to the bowl I by a single thread I, as illustrated in Figure 1, with a spacing gasket 8 preferably interposed.

0n the inner surface of the neck 2 are formed a suitable numberof spaced lugs 9 from which is suspended at flanged container II) for dry coffee andhavlng a perforated bottom .I I. The lugs 9 are preferably notched at I2 to locate and seat the flange IS. The latter is formed with knobs I4 for lifting as will presently be described.

Around the neck 2 is fixed an upwardly projecting collar I5. Upon the neck is mounted a water receptacle I 6 having a cylindrical hollow base II that seats in the collar I5 and is vented at H. A handle l8 has one end fixed to the collar I5 and the other end to the receptacle I, near the bottom'thereof, as shown in Figure l. The base I! carries a pair of outwardly and upwardly extendin prongs l9 that enter similarly shaped cavitie in the upper end of the handle I8, as may be seen by a comparison of Figures 1 and 2. By this means, the receptacle I6 is secured and retained in proper position, and the electric circuit is thereby made, as will presently be described. The lower edge of the base I1 is rounded at 2I opposite the prongs l9 to permit the rocking movement necessary to insert or remove the prongs.

The water receptacle I6 has a single aperture 22 in its bottom to permit water to drip therefrom, or more apertures may be provided if desired or necessary. The top of the receptacle l6 has acap 22 which is lifted when water is to be poured in. The cap has one or more apertures 24 to permit dripping through the aperture 22.

The base II carries a supporting means, such as a plurality of lugs 25 extending inwardly therefrom, to support an electrical element including a.

body 25 of ceramic or other insulating material. On the upper surface of the body and near its edges are mounted two conductors 21 and 28 spaced apart at their ends, as shown in Figures 2 and 5. These conductors are connected respectively to opposite sides 29 and 30 of an electric circuit, as illustrated in Figure 5. Inward of the conductors 21' and 28 and spaced only slightly.

'effect era therefrom are similar conductors 3i and 32 respectively but embedded in the body 26, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The conductors 8| and 32 are connectedat and 34 to the lines 30 and 29 respectively and are therefore of opposite sign to their respective adjacent .contacts 21 and 28. Conductors 21 and 32 are connected across the surface of the body 26 by bars or conductors 35 in parallel relation. Conductors 3| and 28 are similarly interconnected by alternating bars or conductors 38. Thus, both ends of each bar 35 are connected to one side of the circuit, and both ends of each bar 26 to the other side, but there is no flow of current until at least one bar 35 is electrically connected to a bar 88.

The lines 29 and 30 are fastened respectively to the prongs H, as shown in Figure 2. The

cavities 20 are lined with conductive material 37,.

and the liningsare Joined by wires 38, running through the handle It, to fingers 3Q positioned in a cavity 40 formed in the lower end of the handle. The cavity 40 is adapted to receive a plug at the end of' an electric card, and there is no danger of shock because of the concealed fingers 39. A similarly constructed electric element 4i may be mounted in spaced relation above the'element 26 and supported thereon by insulating legs 32. The element 49 is wired to the lines 2Q, '39 and the prongs is in the manner previously described and as designated generally by the numeral 68- in Figure 1.

In the use of the device, the receptacle I6 is lifted out 'of the collar to permit filling the receptacle l6 with dry coffee. It will be seen that the elements 28 and H are removed with the receptacle it and are disconnected completely from .the circuit by removal of the pron s is from the cavities 2d. The receptacle it) may be then lifted out by'the lugs Ill and the proper quantity of ground coffee placed therein, after which it is returned to its former position. The base llof the receptacle id is then inserted in the neck 85, while the prongs It are inserted in their cavities, as already described.

Water is then poured into the receptacle it on lifting the cap 23. The water drips through the aperture 22 upon the upper element, where the electric circuit is closed when the water joins a member 35 to a member 86. r

The rate of dripping is such, as compared with the size and spacing of the exposed conducting bars, that the water boils and some of it is converted into steam. The water flows or is forced by the steam onto the lower element 25 where it undergoes similar treatment and flnally overflows into the ground coffee receptacle it. The cofl'ee solution is made here and drips through the bottom ii to the inner receptacles.

through a body of water, especially at high current density. This consideration is important in view of the sensitiveness of coffee to these elements.

The steam that is generated impinges on the coffee grounds as well as against the inner receptacle 3 and the surface of the strained coflee solution. The steam is well confined to this region by the base l1 and the bottom of the water receptacle.

This is live or dry steam, since it is invisible elements.

The combination of hot water and a high ratio of steam acting on the coffee grounds produces a different solution than-hot water alone according to the conventional methods. Comparative tests with equal amounts of the samekind of cofiee and equal quantities of water produce a stronger and richer solution by the method herein described, with about half the usual acidity and a characteristic reddish amber color. An= other eflect of the generation and retention of the steam is that the coffee solution is kept hot i without auxiliary heating means, and this result elements under any circumstances.

is enhanced by the vacuum insulating space d.

When the water receptacle it has emptied itself, the electric circuit requires no further attention, since it opens as soon as the electrical elements become dry. Thus, there is no danger of boilingaway the water or burning out the In lifting out the elements with the vessel it in the manner described, ther is no danger of electric shock,

since the elements have been entirely severed from the circuit at the cavities 2d.

It will be seen that each bar 85. and s'siits' both ends connected to inside of the circuit. This arrangement provides a; better distribution of current and more rapid and uniform heating of the water than if the bars were connected into the circuit at only one end.

Inthis end is an axial hole 48 having its upper end opening at 58 into the vessel I8. A transverse port iii across the bottom of the hole dd places the hole in communication with the space The heating units may be characterizedlas The practical results of this construction: are

three-fold. (1) It is .not necessary to heat'a'l body obwater in order to obtain boiling water or steam. (2) The fllm method of applying the 7 water on'the heating units produces'a larger below the bottom of the vessel it, when the stem isscrewed down. -When screwed up, the port closes against the smooth wall 56 of'the ferrule 35.

""11 The stem extends well upward into the vessel where a number of spider arms 52 extend from. theinner wall ofthe vessel airing 53 in which the upper end of the stem is journaled. On the disk is a stop pin 54 denoting quantity of steam from a given quantity ofwaterthan, do the methods wherein the current must flow througllii a substantial body of water.

gher proportion of steam as herein produced is shown in the comparative tests de-.

scribed below. 63g In heating adilm of water,. ;i'.here. is )no liberation of hydrogen, oxygen or- 2' .ozon'e', as'in. the case of passing a current Thethe beginning and end of a series of graduations on the'disk. The upper end of the -stem it carries a pointer 56 cooperating with-the. graduations. T f

The pointer is so related to the graduations and the. screw-41 that the hole is closed when the pointerlis on the zerocside of the pin I4 side. Various. degrees-"Inf opening are obtained by setting the pointer to intermediate positions.

With a given amount or coffee grounds and water, various strengths of coflee are obtained by regulating the valve. The smaller the opening at the port 50, the stronger is the brew of coffee. This is accounted for, at least in part, by the fa t that a slower drip of water enables the formation of a proportionately larger quantity of steam, and the strength of the brew appears to be dependent on the ratio of steam and water. -In any event, it is evident that the strength of the brew may be varied without'changing the quantity of coffee grounds or water.

The water valve may be used for still another purpose. With the valve closed, the proper quantity of water can be poured into the vessel H at night for breakfast coffee, or well in advance of the time when the coflee is to be served, the device being plugged into the circuit at the prongs 39. When the cofiee'is wanted, in the morning or at some other time, it is only necessary to turn the pointer 55 to the graduation corresponding to the kind of cofiee desired. The circuit is automatically closed by the water, in the manner already described. Hot cofiee is prepared at the rate of 45 seconds to two minutes What I claim is:

1. A coffee making devic comprising a recep-' tacle for coffee solution, a perforated receptacle for ground coffee suspended therein, a water vessel mounted on the first receptacle and above the second receptacle, and an electric elementfor heating water and generating steam carried by said vessel below its bottom, said element being adapted to close its circuit through a water film thereon, said bottom being perforated over said element, a handle carried by the first receptacle and having conductive sockets comprised per cup, according to the degree of opening of tion has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without de-.- parting from the scope or the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

in an electric circuit, and contact fingers carried by said element and adapted for insertion in said sockets, to connect said element into the circuit and to retain said vessel in operative position on the first receptacle.

2. A coffee making device comprising a receptacle for coiiee solution, a perforated receptacle for ground coifee suspended therein, a water vessel mounted on the first receptacle and above the second receptacle, and an electric element for heating water and generating steam carried by said vessel below its bottom, said element being adapted to close its circuit through a water film thereon, said bottom being perforated over said element, a handle carried by the first receptacle and having conductive sockets comprised in an electric circuit, and contact fingers carried by said element and adapted for insertion in said sockets, to connect said element into the circuit and to retain said vessel in operative position on the first receptacle, conductors extending from said sockets to the lower end of said handle and terminating in a cavity in said lower end, said cavity being adapted to receive an electric plug.

GLENN w. WATSON. 

